Entrepreneur trials shorter working hours in his office and sees a huge surge in productivity 

An Australian entrepreneur is pushing for a shorter workdays with the promise of a boom in employee productivity.

Steve Glaveski, who co-founded Melbourne start-up Collective Campus, believes cutting down on the traditional workday will be extremely beneficial for businesses.

An article the innovator penned for Harvard Business Review has sparked a debate over whether workers are spending too much time in the office and if a stronger focus on work-life balance could provide better employment outcomes.

Glaveski conducted a two-week experiment that saw his team work just six-hours a day – instead of the traditional eight.

As a result he said his team prioritised effectively and limited interruptions in the first few hours of the day.

‘The team maintained, and in some cases increased, its quantity and quality of work, with people reporting an improved mental state, and that they had more time for rest, family, friends, and other endeavors,’ he said.

‘Ensuring that our people do their best work and live their best lives are certainly worth it.’

The idea of a shorter work day was met with some hesitation – mainly by workers who thought they would never be able to complete all their tasks under the tighter deadline.

However, Mr Glaveski said there was a way to combat that.

The idea of a shorter work day was met with some hesitation – mainly by workers who thought they would never be able to complete all their tasks under the tighter deadline (stock image)

‘If you’re the manager of a small team with limited resources, take a moment to reflect on the following productivity techniques and remember that your job as a leader is to facilitate outcomes, not just the illusion of them.’

By introducing a shorter work-day managers would be able to cultivate a ‘flow-friendly’ workplace, he said.

As a result employers would see a productive surge, better outcomes and staff who are far less stressed, he said. 

The idea of a flexible workday is not a new one. For years innovative employers have been thinking up new ways to get more out of staff while cutting down on their hours at the desk. 

New Zealand-based company, Perpetual Guardian, trialled a four-day week and found staff engagement increased by 24 per cent across the board during the eight-week trial last year.

The trial found staff were more creative, had fewer sick days, were more punctual and finished work early less often. 

Research by Swedish bosses Linus Feldt, a Stockholm-based app developer Filimindus, found a six-hour day resulted in happier employees who were more focused throughout the day.